The renovation of the Avion hotel is still on hold, the owner is applying for a grant

Brno - The owner of the functionalist Hotel Avion in the center of Brno has once again applied for a subsidy from European funds for the renovation of the building, amounting to a total of up to 80 million crowns. If he receives the money, work on the national cultural monument, which is beginning to deteriorate, could start next year. This was stated by the owner, Stanislav Berousek, to ČTK. The timelines for the reconstruction have already been postponed several times, most recently it was supposed to begin this spring. However, Berousek was unsuccessful with his last application for a contribution from the EU.
    "We are applying for a subsidy again, and the results should be known in February. I think we could get it this time," said Berousek, who has owned the hotel from the 1920s for five years. According to him, the chances have increased because the government classified Avion in February within the group of buildings with the highest heritage protection. Declaring a monument as a national cultural monument (NKP) means it is reclassified to a higher category, declaring its extraordinary cultural significance.
    Recently, the functionalist monument by architect Bohuslav Fuchs did not receive money from the EU program that allocates funds for South Moravia and Vysočina. This was also due to the claim that there are many hotels in the center of Brno, and tourists would not use any more. However, experts argued that comparing Avion to regular tourist hotels in the center was not appropriate.
    The hotel, built in 1928, is also a rarity and is among the narrowest hotels in Europe. It has been closed since mid-January this year, and the restaurant on the ground floor has not operated since February.
    The owner is collaborating with architect Eva Jiřičná on the renovation plans. The reconstructed pearl of Brno is expected to offer visitors thirty-seven rooms, a glass terrace with views of the city, as well as a wine cellar in the basement.